ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES OF Polypodium vulgare Linn. : A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Polypodium vulgare Linn. commonly called as Bisfaij is a medicinal plant which is used in various ailments. It is one of the most archaic and essential plant, belonging to the family Polypodiaceae. It contains organic substances such as resin, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, protein, reducing sugar and inorganic substances like calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulphur, iron and chloride. It is used in Unani system of medicine for the treatment of sorethroat, stomach-aches, leprosy, melancholia, spleenomegaly, haemorrhoids, rheumatic swelling of the joints etc. Besides this, it has other pharmacological activities too such as antiepileptic, neuro-psychopharmacological, antipyretic, antibiotic, antiviral etc. This review paper discuses the medicinal values of Polypodium vulgare Linn. in Unani medicine as well as its modern pharmacology and gives a new impetus to utilize Bisfaij in various disorders. Keywords: Bisfaij, Polypodium vulgare Linn, Phytopharmacology, Unani Medicine.